Mick Schumacher ‘super excited’ to get things going at the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2021
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Mick Schumacher is thrilled to finally get his Formula 1 career going this weekend in the highly anticipated F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2021 at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir.
Competing at the highest level of motorsport has long been a dream of the young German’s, who celebrated his 22nd birthday yesterday, and in just a few days will be back in the cockpit of his Haas VF-21 challenger at “The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East”.
Schumacher will be hoping to ride the momentum of his recent successes into F1, being the reigning Formula 2 champion.
This weekend, he will become the third member of his family to grace the F1 grid, with father Michael winning 91 races and seven world titles, and uncle Ralf victorious on six occasions. The Bahrain Grand Prix flags off the record 23-round 2021 FIA Formula 1 World Championship.
“Obviously, I’m super excited about the first race in Bahrain,” said Schumacher.
“Thinking about it, it’s 30 years since my dad started his first race, and now I’m starting mine.
The fact that I’m in Formula 1 and away to be racing – it feels so amazing.
“I’m so happy that I’m finally there, finally able to race with everybody and to show my potential working with a great team.
I will learn and improve as a driver and as a human.”
Schumacher made his Formula 1 test debut in Bahrain in 2019 with Ferrari and sealed the F2 championship at BIC last year.
He began his assimilation with Haas F1 Team in December of 2020, partaking in FP1 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, before running in the young driver test.
Then, just earlier this month during F1 pre-season testing, Schumacher gathered valuable experience in Haas’ VF-21.
Despite the abbreviated programme, Schumacher was able to complete 181 laps for his team, which had 394 laps in all at BIC, equating to 2,132.328 kilometres.
“My experience with the team has been good,” Schumacher said.
“Obviously, we’ve had the FP1 session and the full weekend together before the test, the rookie day, in Abu Dhabi last season, which was really good.
“Now having had the first pre-season test with me being an official driver in the team, it’s been very nice – I feel super comfortable with the team.
We’re working hard and I really feel everyone’s super motivated.
“That’s also then really motivating for me.
I’m happy the season’s getting underway now and we really start the work.” Schumacher is now looking forward to racing alongside the best racing drivers in the world, and he is eager to show that he belongs.
“I have a lot of respect for all of them, both as drivers and as people,” he said.
“It’s going to be nice starting on the same grid as them and being amongst the top 20 drivers in the world.
I’m really happy about that.
“I’m just really happy that things are getting underway now and I’m close to starting my first season in Formula 1.”
BIC is hosting F1’s curtain-raiser for the third time in the sport’s history, having held the honour in 2006 and 2010.
Haas has scored 24 points at the Sakhir-based track in the team’s history, taking a strong fifth place on two occasions, in 2016 and 2018.
Related Posts